Faucet



F'. E'. RICE June 24, 1941..

FAUGET Filed aJune 16, 1939 Patented .lune 24, i941 UNHTE STATES iiim'itii FAUCE'E Frank E. Rice, Detroit, Mich. Application June 16, 1939, Serial No. 279,464

2 Claims.

The present invention relates tox faucets and more particularly to beer faucets arranged for quick opening and closing action.

An object of the present invention is to provide a faucet particularly adapted for the purpose of dispensing beer and one which may be manufactured in quantity lots at low manufacturing costs to be sold on a competitive basis.

Another object oi the present invention is to provide a beer faucet construction in which but iew parts are utilized and so designed and arranged that the cost of machining the faucet is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a beer faucet in which the nozzle member is shiitable, which shifting movement is utilized to open the valve.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a beer faucet in which the valve stem is guided in a cap which closes the chamber in which the valve operates.

A further object of the invention consists in providing the shiftable nozzle with an annular groove formed in its exterior, in which groove projects a head carried by the lever supporting the ball handle, utilized for shifting the nozzle to open the valve.

The invention has for member to unseat in one direction.

A valve seat is The above, other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the iollowing description and accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates embodiments of the present invention, and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a beer faucet of the present invention with the handle and nozzle member in positions occupied when the valve is closed.

Figure 2 is a central section through the faucet body showing certain parts in elevation, illustratng the valve in seated relation and the nozzle member in its normally projected position. The dotted lines show the nozzle member moved inwardly and the valve unseated.

Figure 3 is an axial View or section taken through the inclined portion of the body, showing the valve as seated, the nozzle member in its normally projected position, and also showing the manner of guiding the valve stem by the cap.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the upper or inner end of the nozzle member.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line V-V of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an axial sectional view of another form of valve structure.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the upper or inner end of another form of nozzle member.

Figure 8 is an axial section, similar to Figure 3, showing a modification in which the nozzle mem- X-IX of Figure 8.

The drawing will now be explained.

A beer faucet, designated generally as A has a horizontal portion l and an inclined portion 2 which is inclined downwardly and outwardly with respect to the horizontal portion l.

The body portion l is formed with a passageway 3, while the upper portion of the inclined portion 2 is formed with a chamber communieating with the passageway 3 in the part I.

Working within the chamber i is a valve structure including a cylindrical hollow stem 9 With both ends open, prior to assembly. Inserted in the lower end Hi of the stem is a valve member Il of composition material of such characteristics as to make tight sealing engagement with 'the valve seat 'i and without material deterioration. The valve member l I is retained within the counterbore by means oi a pin l2 extending through a central opening i3 in the valve member l l and held in place by a transverse pin l. The outer end of the pin l2 is headed as at i5 to engage the exposed end of the valve member i i and hold it in place in the stem 9.

The cap 8 is counterbored at i5 to receive the upper end of the stern 9, the bore being sufficiently deep to afford ample surface engagement with the stem to guide it in its reciprocable movement.

For maintaining the valve member against its seat, a spring i9 is utilized, this spring being a coil spring arranged with one end against the bottom id of the counterbore it and the other end bearing against the transverse pin lli.

A nozzle member B is reciprocable within the passageway and is constructed as a hollow cylinder open at both ends for passage of fluid through it. At its upper or inner end, as illustrated in the drawing, integral cross members 2i and 22 are provided which at their intersection carry a projection 23 arranged in the axis of the nozzle member and adapted normally to engage against the head i5 of the pin i2 of the valve structure.

Between its ends, the outer surface of the nozzle member is formed with an annular groove 2d.

Formed as a part of the inclined portion 2 of the body is a boss 25 which has a bored and threaded recess formed in it, extending transversely of the length of the inclined member 2 for receiving a pivot bolt El. Adjacent the boss, the inclined portion 2 is formed with a side opening 28 which is normally closed by a cover plate Z9 held in place by the pivot bolt 2.

A lever Si! has an end portion 3l, or leg, arranged to extend into the side opening 28, and carries a head 52 lying within the annulus 2li of the nozzle member B. To the upper end of the lever E@ is applied the usual ball handle 33.

The pivot bolt 2l is provided with a portion 3d which is threaded to engage the threaded counterbored'recess 25 of the boss 25, and an intermediate cylindrical portion 35 which receives the lever 3? in pivotal relation for mounting the lever on the body, The cover 29 is provided with an aperture adapted to receive the portion 35 of the pivot bolt. An enlarged head 2l is provided with the usual screwdriver slot for application and removal of the pivot bolt.

The lever Sii may be removed by withdrawing the pivot bolt 2l, removing the cover 29, and moving the pivot bolt from engagement with the boss '25. When this has been done, the nozzle member B may be removed from the passageway 5 for cleaning or other attention.

The spring i9, under normal conditions, maintains the valve member il seated and because of the existence of the projection 23 of the nozzle member B, the nozzle member is maintained normally in projected or extended position and the handle 35 is heldy in its normal or inoperative position.

The fact that the valve member works within the chamber avails of the pressure of the beer or other liquid within the passage 3 of the portion l and the chamber 'Il to 'augment the holding effect of the spring so that a tight sealing relation is assured.

The relationship of the crank Si and its pivot pin 2'! is such that in order to hold the nozzle member B in its inward or upward position to open passage by unseating of the Valve, it is necessary to maintain hand pressure on the handle 33. As soon as hand pressure on the handle 33 is relieved, the spring i9 and the pressure of the liquid within the chamber t act to seat the valve and at the same time to project the nozzle member B and to turn the handle 33 to its normal or inactive position.

It will be observed that the faucet of the present invention is one which is of simple construction and arrangement. The body is so fashioned and designed that the passages 3, chamber 4, and

passageway 5 may be readily machined, the valve seat l easily made, the nozzle member B easily iinished to nt, and the valve structure likewise easily iinished to fit. The matter of installation of the parts is simple as may be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention appertains.

A gasket 35 is interposed between the upper end of the body portion 2 and the cap B to seal the joint therebetween against leakage.

The upper end of the nozzle member, as illustrat-ed, diverges upwardly as to its interior, to form ready entrance for liquid entering the nozzle member through the valve seat when the valve is opened.

The valve structure may be readily removed for cleaning or replacement of parts, by unscrewing the cap 8.

The nozzle member B may be removed for cleaning by withdrawing the pivot bolt 2.1, removing the cover 29 and lifting out the lever 30, whereupon the nozzle member will drop out of the lower end of the passageway 5.

For attaching the horizontal portion l of the body to a suppiy pipe or to a system in which it is to be used, any suitable means may be employed. The illustrated means includes a head 3l interiorly threaded to receive the threaded end 38 of a connecting pipe. A washer 39 may be interposed in the joint between the body portion i and the pipe to prevent leakage.

The portions 3, @i and 5 constitute a passageway through the valve body for travel of liquid whenever the valve is open or unseated.

The faucet of the present invention is simple in construction, therefore, economical to manufacture. It is positive in action. But a small amount of movement of the nozzle member is necessary to open communication through the faucet, and vice versa, making the faucet eX- tremely quick acting. The valve is opened by positive movement and is closed by spring action. However, construction is such that if the spring were to become inoperative, the pressure of the liquid would be sufficient to close the valve against its seat.

Referring to the valve structure shown in Figure 6, the stem has an upper hollow portion lli) and a lower head portion il of greater exterior diameter. The head is counterbored at i2 to receive lvalve member @33, which is made of the same materials as the valve member Il. Inwardly of the counterbore 2 is a counterbore de of less diameter, to receive an end of pin I2a for holding thevalve member G3 in place. A cotter pin 45, or a pin like iii, is passed transverse-ly through apertures in the stem, between the portion il] and the head 4l, and through an aperture in the pin iEa, to retain the latter in position. A spring lila, at one end rests against the bottom of the hollow portion 40, While its other end bears against the bottom of a counterbore in the cap, comparable to the counterbore I in the cap 8. It is to be understood that when the valve structure of Figure 6 is used instead of that shown in Figures 2 and 3, the counterbore in the cap will be of such diameter as to receive the portion 40 with a sliding it, to guide the valve structure in its reciprocable movements.

The shiftable nozzle member B', shown in Figure 7, has 'a cylindrical interior the diameter of which is substantially that of the opening through the annular valve seat l. The end of the member B', adjacent the valve seat 'l is iiared, as is member B.

Set in notches 46 cut int-o the inner end of the valve member B is Ia bridge piece 41 carrying an Iaxially disposed projection 48 tor engagement with the adjacent end of the valve member to unseat it when the nozzle member B is moved toward the valve seat l, by yactuation of the handle 33 While the portion Z of the faucet has been ilstrated :and described as inclined, it is to be understood that it might be otherwise arranged with respest to the part I.

The form of th-e invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 is, in general, .the same except that the nozzle member B is positively connected to the valve structure so lthat these move simultaneously and as a uni-t.

The nozzle member B" members or bridge pieces 48 which at their intersection support a pin 49 which is threaded.

The valv-e structure includes a yshell 50 counterbored at both ends with :an intermediate partition 5I which is axially bored and threaded at 52. The valve member 53 is entered in the counterbore :at the lower end of 'the shell and is held in place by Ia pin 54 exteriorly -threaded to be threaded into the bore '52 of the partition 5l. The pin is counterbored yand threaded at 55 to receive the pin 49 of the nozzle member B".

In installing the nozzle member B and the valve structure, the nozzle member is inserted in the chamber 5 below the Valve seat partition 6, while the valve structure is inserted in the chamber .4. The pins 49 and 54 are then screwed together an Iamount to allow axial movement of is provided with cross communication through .the faucet.

When the arrangement of Figures 8 and 9 is used, it is necessary to prevent rotative movement of either the nozzle member valve structure in order that these may be connected or disconnected by screw action.

The nozzle member B is shown as being prevented from rotation.

Cut in the surface of the nozzle member B" is a notch 56 which receives the head 32 of the levecrI :30. The notch is so cut as to prevent rotative movement of the `nozzle member B when engaged by the head 32. Thus, the valve structure may be connected to or disconnected from the nozzle member by screw action.

As designed, the faucet of the present invenrang-ed that replacement may be made quickly, also that the whole structure may be quickly disassembled for cleaning and reassembled for use.

may be substituted, vnthout departing from 'the spirit and scope of the invention.

'I'he invention is claimed as follows:

cure said member lin plac ber endwise shitably arranged within the other of said chambers and having an end extending outwardly of said 'other chamber, a lever pivoted to said one part and operative to move said adjacent and `disposed tol engage said seat, a spring in said hollow stem for normally maintaining said valve a'ianged pin extending axially ,through said valve 

